Nikki Hiltz, a former Arkansas All-American competing for the United States, finished second in the 1,500 meters at the World Indoor Championships on Sunday in Glasgow, Scotland, to earn a silver medal.
Hiltz ran a personal-best 4 minutes, 02.32 seconds in taking second behind Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu, who won in 4:01.46.
Hiltz became the first American to medal in the World Indoor Championships in the 1,500 since Regina Jacobs won the gold medal in 2003.
Hiltz’s time ranks No. 3 on the U.S. all-time list.
“I’m in shock,” Hiltz said in an Arkansas news release. “I woke up this morning with a really sore throat and I thought my day was over.
“I’ve done nothing but sleep all day. It feels like the morning right now.
“I talked to [the U.S. coach] about my plan, and he advised me to play it conservatively. He said you’re only going to have one bullet out there, so use it wisely.”
Hiltz went from third place to second in the final 100 meters when she passed American Emily Mackay, who finished third in 4:02.69.
Former Razorback All-American Chris Bailey earned a silver medal as a member of the U.S. 1,600-meter relay team.
Belgium won the relay gold medal, running 3:02.54, with Bailey anchoring the U.S. team to a 3:02.60 time for second place.
The U.S. relay also included Jacory Patterson, Matthew Boling and Noah Lyles.
Tara Davis-Woodhall, who competed at Georgia and Texas and now trains in Fayetteville, won the long jump with a leap of 23 feet, 2 1/2 inches to take the gold medal. She is married to former Razorback Hunter Woodhall.
“Every time someone says I’m a world champion it really hits me, I really did this,” Davis-Woodhall said in an Arkansas news release. “I am so happy, so grateful.
“Glasgow has been so welcoming and I’m excited to go home and celebrate this medal before I start training again.”
Alexis Holmes, a former Kentucky athlete who trains in Fayetteville, anchored the U.S. 1,600 relay to a second-place finish to earn a silver medal. She also won a bronze medal Saturday by taking third in the 400.
The Netherlands won in 3:25.07 with the U.S. second in 3:25.34.
Also running on the U.S. relay were Quanera Hayes, Talitha Diggs and Bailey Lear.